The Post has learned that the sparkplug three-Cup winner stands to become an unrestricted Group 5 free agent this summer. Given the Devils’ have history of failing to keep their unrestricteds, his return after this season will be a serious question.

As the Devils visit the Rangers this afternoon, Brylin shares the team lead with Patrik Elias at plus-12 and is enjoying a superb season, his 11 goals fourth on the team.

One of four remaining three-Cup Devils, along with Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer, Brylin will qualify for Group 5 as a 30-year-old, 10-year vet making less than the NHL average salary. Brylin is on the final year of a deal paying $1.55 million, and this year’s average salary is expected to become official close to the $1.8 million of last season.

“Obviously, I don’t want to go anywhere else, but we’ll see what happens in the summer,” Brylin said. “Nobody knows what the summer is going to bring.”

The Devils drafted Brylin from the Red Army in the second round in 1992 and he made his NHL debut during the lockout-shortened 1995 season, scoring a goal in the Devils’ first Cup-clinching game against Detroit. He scored 23 goals, 52 points and went plus-25 in 2000-01, career bests, and was voted Unsung Hero by his teammates that year. They voted him Players’ Player in 1998-99.

* Add another hole for Lou Lamoriello to plug. Rumbles around the team suggest that Corey Schwab is unlikely to return as backup for Martin Brodeur after four bouts with an abdominal injury. The backup spot is currently being filled by Clemmensen, but there are suggestions that Lamoriello might want more veteran insurance for Brodeur as the playoffs approach. Carolina’s Arturs Irbe is one obvious candidate.